Trending in 2015 (Pt.1): Bankside Living

Bivvies

Aqua M3 Compact
Aqua’s original M3 is a true bivvy veteran of the bank. It was the original pram hood (well, it was actually called the Armadillo, but the “M3” is just its new name); it spawned a million copies; it grew a peak (which was then copied a million times); and now it’s shed some weight. Yep, that’s right, Aqua are launching the M3 Compact and it will be hitting the shelves anytime now.

It’s a two-rib (aluminium) version of the M3 and has all the same great features (Aquatexx material, full mesh panels, rear vents, etc., etc.) as the original but on a smaller footprint and lighter on the scales. You can of course beef it up for late autumn and winter by purchasing the wrap which will turn it into an all-session weather-beater. “GIMME”: TBC; aquaproducts.co.uk

Chub Vizor Lite
James Temple, Chub’s newly appointed Product Innovation Manager, has taken the “bivvy rulebook” and thrown it into the lake with the new-for-2105 Vizor Lite. In an era where the popularity of large bedchairs have taken over, James felt it was time to create a standard sized shelter that could accommodate them. Thanks to a unique split pole design and four point single span tension strap, it gives the humble, lightweight, two-pole designed pram hood a completely new-look and a much, much larger inner footprint to soak up that wideboy bedchair you’ve just bought. Great innovation, guys. “GIMME”: £399.00; chubfishing.com

Nash Double Top Apex
No other bivvy caused such a hefty debate on our Facebook and Instagram feeds (search CARPology) than the Double Top Apex. Whilst some truly hated (almost death-threats-hate) others loved it. It’s based on their flagship (and best-seller) Double Top but features a unique modular design which provides a heightened apex centre ridge for enhanced headroom and accessibility, as well as ingeniously providing the venting system to prevent the age-old problem of roof capsule heat build up. Combine this with the company’s ace Aqua Sense Hydra and you can see why some loved it. “GIMME”: Apex 1, £494.99; Apex 2, £604.99

Nash Scope OPS Brolly
The Nash Scope concept blew up last year and it’s only getting bigger with every passing month. Alongside a four-way bedchair (see opposite) and a clothing line, Nash is also launching one of the most innovate umbrellas we’ve seen this year. The Scope Ops Brolly combines all the market leading features of their Groundhog but with one big difference: the rib length is approximately 44-inches which pack away to co-exist with the minute 44-inch pack-down length of a 9ft Scope rod. It’s light too: both the brolly and bivvy sticks weigh just 3.6kg! Sports car-friendly. “GIMME”: £219.99; nashtackle.co.uk

JRC Stealth Bloxx Bivvy
‘More fishing, less faffing’: that was brief to the JRC design team when it came to creating the Bloxx. The whole principle is based around a central ‘block’ where the five ribs and peak bars are all connected, and because the ribs fold out in an accordion-like manner, the bivvy is set-up and packed down ultra-fast. It’s also incredibly versatile: take out the entire front and you have the perfect day shelter; put the wrap on top and you have an isolated bivvy with increased space at the front. Do you want to hear the best bit of all? It’s the price: JRC will be retailing the Bloxx for just £259.99 and £139.99 for the overwrap.

Aqua 60" Brolly
With 25 years’ experience this coming year, it’s no surprise that Aqua is synonymous with quality bankside houses and luggage. It’s a challenge to peruse its wares without getting your wallet out – and that sentence couldn’t be truer with their recently launched 00’s hit classic, the Heritage 60” Brolly. It’s a traditional brolly based firmly around the original but with the new addition of their award-winning Aquatexx fabric and a full mozzi mesh infill (available separately) for the first time. If you like your products to come packed with heritage, this is overflowing at the seams. “GIMME”: TBC; aquaproducts.co.uk

Sleeping (bags first)

Whilst there is a couple of new beds and bed options from Nash, the one we’re most interested in right now is the Scope OPS Bed – the company’s first four-fold frame system which not only reduces the underarm depth making it easier to carry on long hikes, but the overall footprint too, meaning it’ll fit into anything from a Micra to an Audi RS5.

And don’t think just because it’s compact that it’s not comfortable. The lay flat frame and four leg design ensures stability and enhanced support and thanks to featuring Nash’s patented Indulgence Sleep System it’s almost incredibly warm. Supplied with a dedicated Ops Carry Bag and look to pay around £406.99 in the New Year; nashtackle.co.uk

Sleeping (now bags)

All of Aqua’s sleeping bags come with some serious pedigree. They’ve been at the forefront of technology and fabric advancements since they came onto the scene some 25 years ago, so who better to supply you with a new out-and-out winter sleeping bag? The Atexx5 is made using performance grade Aquatexx on the outer and deep hollow fill for the inner; it’s a fleece lined bag for super comfort and features three securing points to the bedchair and twin crash zips.

The only thing better than having the extra warmth of a bedchair cover is one which is made from Aquatexx and is covered in DPM camo, which is exactly what you get from Aqua’s Tactical Bedchair Cover – the first of 14 new products to be launched in their new ‘Tactical Range’. Expect to see this from December and the other 13 sometime in the New Year.

JRC clearly mean business in the New Year if their 2015 version of the 3D Sleeping Bag is anything to go by. The range has now be renamed Extreme 3D Sleeping Bag thanks to some clever new filling which will leave you warmer than a polar bear in a onesie stood in front of a fire. Look to pay around £149.99 for the top-end bag which will be out very soon.

Bite alarms

Nash Siren R3
We know – when you looked at the original Nash Siren, it just looked… well, just not right. The rounded body, the TV remote-sized receiver, it all just seemed… off. But here’s the thing: for 2015 Nash have taken all that brilliant inner technology – the Intelligent Sensing microchip which eliminated false indication; extreme-range remote performance (tests prove it’s the best on the market); high output adjustable volume, vibrate and mute function, anti-theft alarm – which on the new R3 can not only be adjusted on the head but via the receiver too, but marvellously Nash have then built all this awesome tech into a much nicer, smaller head with an equally pleasant-sized receiver. It’s frickin’ awesome and available with Blue, Green, Red or White LED’s. “GIMME”: £109.99 per head; nashtackle.co.uk

JRC Radar C1, C2, C3
Three years ago JRC entered the bite alarm market for the first time with their Radar Bite Alarm. Three years on and the family has grown to three, with a fourth due in the New Year. JRC is calling said new sibling the ‘Radar C’, with three models available: C1, C2 and the C3 being the most advanced model. Advanced, yes; expensive, no. The C1 will retail for just £19.99, the C2 at £24.99 and the C3 at 34.99 and they all feature the awesome travelling LED’s from their bigger brothers, adjustable volume and on the C2 and C3’s you get tone options too. jrc-fishing.co.uk